Queens, NY — Hinode Sushi, a Japanese restaurant located at 68-38 Forest Avenue in the Ridgewood neighborhood of Queens, received a Grade B score of 27 following a health inspection conducted on February 25, 2026. The score places the restaurant at the very top of the Grade B range, just one point below the threshold for a Grade C designation. Inspectors documented two critical violations and no non-critical violations during the visit.
What Inspectors Found
The inspection identified two critical violations at the establishment.
First, inspectors noted evidence of mice or live mice in the restaurant's food or non-food areas (violation code 04L). The presence of rodent activity in a food service establishment is classified as a critical violation due to the direct risk of contamination to food products and food preparation areas.
Second, inspectors cited the restaurant for food contact surfaces not being properly washed, rinsed, and sanitized after each use and following any activity when contamination may have occurred (violation code 06D). Food contact surfaces that are not adequately sanitized between uses can facilitate the transfer of harmful bacteria and other pathogens to food served to customers.
No non-critical violations were recorded during the inspection.
Food Safety Context
Under NYC Health Code Article 81, restaurants are required to maintain their premises free of vermin, including mice and rats. The presence of rodent activity represents a failure to meet basic pest management standards required for food service operations.
The FDA Food Code establishes that food contact surfaces must be cleaned and sanitized between uses to prevent cross-contamination. This requirement is fundamental to food safety management and applies to cutting boards, utensils, preparation tables, and any surface that comes into direct contact with food.
A score of 27 is notable because it represents the highest possible score within the Grade B range. One additional violation point would have placed Hinode Sushi in Grade C territory, which carries more significant consequences for a restaurant's public-facing grade and can trigger additional re-inspection requirements.
Inspection History
No prior inspection history is available for Hinode Sushi in the DOHMH database. This may indicate the restaurant is a newer establishment or that previous records are not reflected in the current dataset.
The inspection was conducted on February 25, 2026, and the data was released by the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene on February 27, 2026.
Understanding NYC Restaurant Grades
New York City's restaurant grading system, administered by DOHMH, assigns letter grades based on the total number of violation points accumulated during an inspection:
- A: 0–13 points — Represents the highest level of compliance with health regulations
- B: 14–27 points — Indicates moderate violations that require correction
- C: 28 or more points — Indicates significant violations requiring immediate attention
Hinode Sushi's score of 27 places it at the upper boundary of the Grade B range. Restaurants that receive a B or C grade are entitled to a re-inspection, at which point they may improve their score and receive a higher grade.
Consumers can look up any restaurant's inspection results through the NYC DOHMH restaurant inspection database or by checking the letter grade posted at the establishment's entrance, as required by city regulations. Inspection scores and violation details are public record and are updated regularly as new inspections are conducted.
More About This Restaurant
View the full inspection history for Hinode Sushi including all past inspections, violations, and grade changes.